SGB Executive Sports & Fitness

Sports Direct’s Profits Dragged Down By Weak Pound

On a conference call with analysts, Mike Ashley, CEO and owner, said the company is now expecting an improved U.K. performance at Sports Direct partly because the company had “smashed the ball out of the park” with its investment in more up-market flagship stores.

Dick’s Shutters Chelsea Collective

Dick’s said in a statement provided to SGB Exec: “We opened Chelsea Collective stores as a lab to more thoroughly understand the women’s specialty athletic business. As the leases at both locations are expiring soon, we have concluded the very successful experiment. We have learned a great deal from Chelsea Collective and the valuable insights will be transferred to Dick’s Sporting Goods to better serve our female customers.”

TomTom Reviewing Options For Sports Segment

Citing disappointing sales, TomTom took an impairment charge to cover the entire goodwill of its Consumer segment of €169 million and said it is reviewing options, including a sale of its Sports business.

Play It Again Sports Parent Sees Modest Q2 Profit Gain

Winmark Corp., the parent of Play It Again Sports, reported net income for the quarter ended July 1, 2017 of $5.8 million, or $1.29 a share, up from $5.4 million, or $1.25, a year ago, representing a gain of 7.4 percent.

Why Did Mission Apparel Launch On Amazon?

Josh Shaw, founder and CEO of Mission, said, “Mission had a handful of options to launch the new Mission Cooling Apparel line, but none compared to the synergy we saw in Amazon.”

Why Is On Leaving Amazon?

Caspar Coppetti, co-founder and global head of sales, On, stated, “The biggest issue with Amazon is lack of control over the story and experience we know that On customers appreciate. It also doesn’t support our specialty run doors.”

Dick’s Amps Up Price Match Guarantee

Dick’s Sporting Goods on Monday launched an expanded price-match policy that matches nearly all competitor’s online and offline prices, including Amazon, Wal-Mart and vendor websites.

Puma Raises FY Guidance On Q2 Momentum

Puma said it now expects that currency adjusted sales will increase between 12 percent and 14 percent. Previous guidance called for a currency adjusted increase at a low double-digit percentage rate.

Dick’s C-Level Continues To Undergo Revamp

Dick’s Sporting Goods’ hiring of Scott Hudler, formerly of Dunkin’ Brands, as SVP and chief marketing officer comes on top of a number of exec changes earlier in the year and underscores the sporting goods chain’s continued commitment to its omnichannel push.

Cornell University Ends Relationship With Nike Over Alleged Labor Issues

In response, Nike said in a statement that it’s “Code of Conduct meets or exceeds international standards set by the International Labour Organization’s conventions and while it is not possible to implement individual codes for over 1000 partner schools, we often find common ground that meets our shared expectations and enables us to move forward.”

Hydro Flask Delivers Strong Double-Digit Growth In Q1  

Helen of Troy’s CEO Julien Mininberg said Hydro Flask’s “new spring season refresh continues to build excitement and results with new products, expanded color assortments, increased shelf and display space, new distribution games including international.”

Industry Excited About Outdoor Retailer’s Move To Denver

While many thanked Salt Lake City for hosting the show for the past 22 years and commiserated with their loss, most of the Outdoor Retailer show veterans reached out to by SGB Exec were thrilled with the decision to move the event to Denver for the next five years.